Julian Schnabel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Julian Schnabel
Schnabel in 2010
Born	(1951-10-26) October 26, 1951 (age 73) New York City, U.S.
Education	University of Houston
Known for	Painting film
Style	"Plate paintings"
Movement	Neo-expressionism
Spouse(s)	Jacqueline Beaurang ​ ​ (m. 1980; div. 1992)​ Olatz López Garmendia ​ ​ (m. 1993; div. 2010)​ Louise Kugelberg ​ (m. 2019)​

Julian Schnabel (born October 26, 1951) is an American painter and filmmaker. In the 1980s, he became famous for his "plate paintings." These were large artworks with broken ceramic plates glued onto them. Since the 1990s, he has also been known for directing independent movies.

Schnabel directed Before Night Falls, which helped Javier Bardem become a well-known actor. He also directed The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. This movie was nominated for four Academy Awards. For The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Schnabel won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Director and the Golden Globe Award for Best Director. He was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director.

Early Life and Education

Schnabel was born in Brooklyn, New York. His family moved to Brownsville, Texas, in 1965. He studied art at the University of Houston, where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. After college, he applied to a special art program in New York. He famously sent slides of his artwork placed between two pieces of bread. He was accepted into the program and studied there from 1973 to 1975.

In 1975, Schnabel met artist Joseph Glasco in Galveston, Texas. They became good friends and shared many interests in art. Schnabel later encouraged Glasco to move his studio to New York.

Art Career Highlights

Schnabel returned to Houston in 1975 and set up an art studio. The director of the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston agreed to give him a show. This exhibit ran from February 20 to March 7, 1976. An art critic noted that his paintings had a strong presence, even though they were still developing.

Schnabel's big breakthrough came with his first solo show in 1979. All his artworks were sold before the show even opened. In 1980, he showed his work at the Venice Biennale, a major art exhibition. By 1981, he was a well-known artist. He was the youngest artist in the famous 'A New Spirit in Painting' exhibition in London.

His "plate paintings" became very famous. These large artworks had broken ceramic plates attached to them. Art critics called his style neo-expressionism. This art movement focused on expressing strong emotions. Schnabel's paintings are often very large. He uses many different materials like plaster, wax, photographs, and even antlers. He paints on canvas, wood, and even surfboards. His art often mixes abstract shapes with recognizable figures. Because of their size and materials, his works often feel like sculptures.

In 2002, Schnabel created the cover art for the Red Hot Chili Peppers' album, By the Way. The woman on the cover is his daughter, Stella Schnabel. The band loved his artwork, saying he captured the album's feeling.

In 2010, Schnabel had a large exhibition in Toronto, Canada. It showed how his paintings and films connect. In 2011, another exhibition of his work was held in Venice, Italy.

Art Market Value

Julian Schnabel's paintings have sold for high prices. The most expensive painting sold at auction was Ethnic Type #14 (1984). It sold for $1,452,500 at Christie's in 2017.

Film Career Highlights

Schnabel started directing films in the 1990s. His first film was Basquiat (1996), which was about the painter Jean-Michel Basquiat. In 2000, he directed Before Night Falls, based on a book by Reinaldo Arenas. This film won a major award at the Venice Film Festival.

In 2007, he directed The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. This movie was based on a French memoir. For this film, Schnabel won the award for best director at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. He also won the Golden Globe for best director. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director. Schnabel felt a personal connection to the story. He had read to a friend who was also "locked inside his body" due to illness.

In 2007, Schnabel also designed the stage for Lou Reed's "Berlin" concert tour. He later released a documentary film about it called Lou Reed's Berlin. In 2010, he directed the film Miral. In 2017, he announced plans for a film about the painter Vincent van Gogh. This film, At Eternity's Gate, was released in 2018. It stars Willem Dafoe as Van Gogh.

In September 2023, Schnabel announced he would direct a movie called In the Hand of Dante. This film is based on a book by Nick Tosches and is set to star Oscar Isaac.

Writing and Music

Schnabel published his autobiography in 1987. It was called CVJ: Nicknames of Maitre D's & Other Excerpts From Life. In 1995, he released a music album titled Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud. The album was recorded in Brooklyn, New York, in 1993. It featured guest musicians like Bill Laswell and Buckethead.

Personal Life and Home

Palazzo Chupi

Julian Schnabel has been married three times and has seven children. His first wife was Jacqueline Beaurang. They had three children: Lola, Stella, and Vito. Lola is a painter and filmmaker, Stella is a poet and actress, and Vito is an art dealer. With his second wife, Olatz López Garmendia, he has twin sons, Cy and Olmo. He also has a son with Danish model May Andersen.

Schnabel lives in New York City with his current wife, Louise Kugelberg. She is a Swedish interior designer and helped write At Eternity's Gate. He also has art studios in New York City and Montauk, Long Island. His home in New York City is a former horse stable. He changed it into a living space and added five apartments. This building is called the Palazzo Chupi and is easy to spot because it is painted pink.

Filmography

Awards and Recognition

• 2019 Paez Medal of Art, New York City (VAEA).

See also

In Spanish: Julian Schnabel para niños

• Bruno Bischofberger
• List of artists who created paintings and drawings for use in films